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Tuesday, 31 March 2015

In the post Christmas sales I picked up a couple of Benefit's b.right! Radiant Skincare 6 piece intro kit's and as excited as I was to try them (as I adore Benefit's makeup) I will admit they have kinda just sat in a drawer in my dressing table. A couple of weeks ago I caught sight of the set when I was digging around looking for a tanning mitt and picked the facial emulsion mostly because the name intrigued me, I mean a moisturiser does just that but what is so different with this?

So what is it? Triple Performing Facial Emulsion is an oil-free, lightweight formula designed to hydrate and prepare skin for moisturiser. The formula has such a fresh scent it's unreal! After reading a few negative reviews on Benefit's website about how oily it left some girls faces I was a bit apprehensive of how it would fare on my oily/combination skin but it doesn't add to my oiliness at all. One thing I have noticed is how well my makeup sits when I'm wearing this lightweight moisturiser underneath, my skin looks really smooth and seems to reflect the light leaving me looking a bit glowy! Triple Performing Facial Emulsion has an SPF 15 which is great as I will rarely go for a product if it doesn't have any SPF.

I love this moisturiser so much I've already purchased the full size bottle. The sample sized bottle is a generous amount, it's enough to really give you the opportunity to trial it over a few weeks (a dig at those pointless little skincare sachets companies give out!). The only thing I will say is that despite the sample sized bottle being aesthetically pleasing it is totally impractical! At times no matter how much you shake you don't get a drop out and other times only slightly tilting it will dispense enough to do your face 10 times over, luckily the full size product has a pump in the bottle!

Monday, 30 March 2015

It's been a while since I did an 'empties' post, primarily because I completely forget to stash away those empty vessels and they end up in the bin but this month I have made a conscious effort to put aside those empty products. So I'm going to run through my empties and whether they will be repurchased or already have...

I always have a couple of tubes/bottles of hand cream on my bedside table as the last part of my bedtime beauty routine involves slathering my hands in moisturiser before bed. This cheap and cheerful hand cream from Yves Rocher smells divine and although I don't have over dry hands unfortunately it does very little for me on the moisturising front so this one won't be a repurchase.

I've tried a fair few micellar water's and none have stood up to this. Not only does it remove all traces of makeup but it also leaves my skin squeaky clean and smooth. I use this as part of a 'double cleanse' at night meaning I will use this prior to my cleanser and together they deliver a super deep cleanse. I have a stockpile of this micellar water, you can often pick it up for half the rrp from Superdrug.

If you read my blog regularly you will know that I have a real soft spot for Premae's products. This gel cleanser has done wonders for my skin, with it's completely natural ingredients it provides a deep cleanse whilst leaving my skin soft and nourished. This product is a regular repurchase as it's such a staple in my routine.

If like me you suffer from troublesome skin occasionally then you will love this toner. Containing only 6 ingredients it effectively balances oily skin and removes the last traces of your clearer whilst helping to fight your spots. I will repurchase this somewhere down the line, I've just started a toner from La Roche Possay so I will see how I get on with that one first.

I doubt I'm alone in favouriting Batiste dry shampoo, it's great for giving you one last day in between washes and giving volume to hairstyles. I've already repurchased only this time I have gone for a trio of miniatures I picked up on sale from ASOS.

This mascara is one of my favourite drugstore products. It does an amazing job of lengthening and separating lashes with a smudge and clump free formula. I definitely would repurchase this mascara, I have Lancome Hypnose open at the moment (I don't like to have more than one mascara open at any one time) but this would be top of my list for future purchases.

Lush offer a great variety of affordable yet effective skincare products and mask of magnanimity is at the top of my list for face masks. When I'm suffering from a bad break out this mask does wonders for my skin. I go through bouts of buying Lush products, unfortunately I live 30 miles away from my nearest store so I can't just pop in, I do order online when I have a largish order to put through but because they are full of fresh ingredients they only tend to last for 14 days.

This is my all-time favourite mask for break-out's, it does a quick and super effective job of clearing break-out's and reducing the size of those horrible large spots that just won't budge. The smell takes some getting used to (think garlic mayo!) due to some of the ingredients but when it does an amazing job like it does, I can live with it!

I absolutely love this eyeliner for it's precision but I do find that the formula smudges and as it's a felt tip pen style liner it dries up so quickly! This unfortunately will not be a repurchase, I much prefer a gel liner for the depth of colour.

The one pictured is a sample size from a Benefit gift set. This oil-free lotion preps skin for moisturising and leaves skin soft and dewy without looking oily and slick. I have gone on to purchase the full size product as my foundation seems to look so much better with this moisturiser worn underneath!

Again in this photo this is a sample sized product, from Birchbox I think. I smooth this oil all over my body before getting into the shower and within seconds of the water hitting my skin the bathroom is filled with the uplifting scents of sage and frankincense. I will definitely go on to purchase the full size product.

This is another Birchbox sample, I'm on a mission to work through that huge draw full of samples I have! Whilst this exfoliator smells lovely and has fine particles to help buff dead skin away I didn't find it abrasive enough for me, I do own cheaper and more effective products. It's not the worst I've tried but its far from the best so for this reason I won't go on to purchase the full size.

Phew this month's empties has certainly been one of skincare, I find it hard to get through makeup as I have so much of it and do a weekly product rotation. Have you spotted any of your favourites here?

Sunday, 29 March 2015

I got this hair masque in the newest Glamour magazine and Latest In Beauty collaboration box the 'Spring Edit' and this was one of the products I was looking forward to trying the most. This rich and creamy treatment is designed to hydrate hair and repair damage.

What I love about this masque is that unlike other hair treatments it doesn't need to be heat activated, you just need to shampoo, towel dry hair and then work a generous amount through mid-lengths and tips and leave for around 5 minutes. This masque smells gorgeous and although it intensely hydrates it doesn't leave hair feeling heavy and greasy. Oh the scent, did I mention the scent?!

This masque works best on thick, coarse and dry hair so if your hair is like mine, naturally thick and curly, it will work wonders for you. My hair was so glossy and touchable the next day, I can see this becoming my new once-a-week hair treatment.

Friday, 27 March 2015

One blusher I will miss using now spring is upon us is Illamsqua's Allure. This gorgeous dusty rose pink with a fine gold shimmer finish delivers a lovely flush of colour and leaves cheeks with a luminous sheen. I do find this shade (on a pale skinned girl like myself) works best with winter makeup as it's extremely pigmented and can be a little difficult to use lightly.

I adore this shade, the only thing I do find with the formula is as it's so soft and buttery you get a lot of fall out no matter how lightly you run your brush over the pan. Illamasqua is still a relatively new brand to me but everything I have tried has been pretty impressive. What are your Illamasqua must-haves?

Sunday, 22 March 2015

I discovered Milani from a photo on my Instagram feed and instantly fell in love with their baked blushers, after reading a few reviews I decided to go for the shade Luminoso, the most gorgeous peachy gold shade which instantly lifts my complexion. The brand is american so it is a bit of a pain to get over here in the UK, there are a few eBay sellers and the website I got mine from afrohairandbeauty.com.

Eyeko is a favourite brand of mine, they seem to deliver great quality products in quirky packaging that sets them apart from other brands. This eyebrow gel is one of my favourites, the formula tames stray hairs and leaves brows looking glossy and perfected.

This has long been my favourite primer, although I may stray at times I always return. The ultra fluid silicone formula smoothes out my skin and ensures my foundation has a perfect base. The primer has fine iridescent particles in it that leave my skin glowing.

Its not often I hit the pan on a product, Body Shop's Honey Bronzer will always be that one product I do. The buttery formula of this matte bronzer blends seamlessly and (shade 2) works perfectly on my pale skin.

You will see this mascara feature in a lot of my posts, it does the most amazing job of delivering long, separated lashes with a glossy black formula which doesn't smudge or flake. Perfection in a tube.

Bobbi's corrector has been my miracle eye product ever since I discovered it 2 years ago. I've not found a product that does a better job of disguising dark circles and brightening the eye area than this.

When these beautiful shimmer bricks were released I tried to convince myself that I didn't need one, that I could create the same effect with products I already own but I caved in and I have to admit I was wrong. Pastel Peach is the most uplifting combination of colours that leaves my face glowing!

I must admit this concealer has grown on me, a few months ago I wrote a post on my dislike for it however lately I have been using it more and after finding the right technique for application (finger instead of sponge) I really like the finish.

I know many a beauty enthusiast would gasp at me saying this but I'm just not that in to it and I'm literally just trying to use it up as I hate the thought of throwing £25 in the bin! Designed to conceal, highlight and brighten, I struggle to blend it properly and find I get better results from other highlighters.

A smooth gel formula that glides on and is blackest black. I find the formula is great for a fine slick of liner above the eye however I do find it smudges and transfers when I go for a more bold look.

Friday, 20 March 2015

The blogosphere erupted with rave reviews when this foundation was released and every girl and her dog rushed out to buy it, a little late to the party I know but I purchased it a few weeks ago and feel I should give an honest review of this 'miracle foundation'.

Ok so firstly despite being called 'Sheer Glow' the foundation is not sheer, but described by many a reviewer as a medium-buildable foundation. Unless in my years of foundation application experience I am missing something, I did not find this foundation was build-able. Despite many saying one layer covers scars and blemishes I found it provided little coverage and when I tried to go back over my face for a second layer the foundation just moved around and looked patchy.

Although this foundation is recommended for normal, normal-dry and dry skin types I found this foundation to stick to dry areas I never even knew I had! I have normal/combination skin at times, this foundation after a few hours of wear separates and leaves me looking like an oil slick.

The shade Gobi is absolutely perfect for me (I usually wear MAC NC15) but unfortunately this foundation in my books is a huge disappointment. After trying various combinations of primers, finishing powders and tools for application I just can't get the results that so many people have raved about.

Wednesday, 18 March 2015

NYX is a brand I haven't tried very much of, mostly because they seem to be utterly hopeless at restocking their website so the few products I do own from them I have come across merely by chance.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream's are a pout paint that glide on and set to a matte finish. What I love about this particular matte lip product is that despite having a durable finish it's not at all drying and wears off evenly. Stockholm is a gorgeous nude shade that is just perfect for any daytime look.

Sunday, 15 March 2015

I don't know about you but nowadays I am finding my makeup stash is becoming so large that unless I have a weekly rotation of products I never get around to using them! This week I've been loving copper tones on my eyes with a nude lip, here's the products I've been reaching for all week...

I'm not an avid eyeshadow wearer so I go through the motions with this palette, I can go months without giving it a thought but then once I start wearing it again I can't put it down! This palette is perfect for girls like me who prefer neutral shades and with the palette having shades with satin, shimmer and matte finishes you can really switch up your look.

A gorgeous dusky rose-pink that has really been complimenting the bronzed theme I have gone with this week. As you can expect from Illamasqua this blusher is highly pigmented and extremely flattering. There's a subtle hint of shimmer that brings your cheeks to life which I love!

My favourite eyeshadow primer at the moment, it offers a bare skin effect that enhances eyes and sets eyeshadows for all-day wear. This primer evens out the texture of your eyelids, is waterproof and doesn't crease or smudge.

Friday, 13 March 2015

I do love it when you discover a product that leaves you wondering how you managed without it. Rimmel is a brand that I loved when I was growing up, with their vast range of products at affordable prices it was always a stand I would visit on payday. With social media expanding and becoming easier for me to be swept up with the media hype of high-end products I tend to forget about those trusted brands I grew up loving.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Mono blush delivers stay true colour from a soft, buttery powder formula that could really rival those high-end offerings I tend to favour. This shade, Santa Rose, is the perfect amount of peach and pink with a hint of shimmer that leaves cheeks with a healthy flush of colour that lasts all day. What I love about this shade, so much that I have worn it everyday since purchasing, is that it just goes with everything!

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

I don't often wear eyeshadow, I tend to opt for a slick of liner and a bold lip, but lately I have been revisiting some of my treasured palettes and when I reached for my regular eyeshadows primer (Benefit's Stay Don't Stray) I found it to be quite drying so after a little research I opted for this offering from Lancome.

La Base Paupieres Pro has a creamy waterproof formula that firstly creates a bare skin effect which means it can be worn alone or under eyeshadow and secondly smooths the eyelid and provides a crease free finish.

As I am quite pale I opted for the lightest shade in the range which just so happens to be perfect for me whether I'm wearing it alone or with an eyeshadow on top. The formula has a subtle shimmer in it that is not at all obvious when you are wearing a matte eyeshadow on top. I apply with a concealer brush and then gently pat on to my eyelids and apply eyeshadow once dry and I can honestly say my eye makeup doesn't budge all day!

Sunday, 8 March 2015

After an 8 day week at work last week I was left needing as much help to fake the glow of 8 hours sleep as I could get and although I felt like the walking dead inside these little treasures ensured it didn't show on the outside!

This product is my ultimate quick fix for tired skin, it's loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, green tea and iridescent particles to enhance the effects of light on the skin under all lighting conditions. I like to apply a small amount after moisturising and it really leaves my skin with a glow.

I love it when you discover a fantastic product from an old brand, this blusher is just that. I will admit that in the last couple of years I have got swept up in the media hype of high-end products and have dismissed a lot of the drugstore brand releases, how wrong have I been?! Whilst browsing the aisles of my local Boots this little gem really jumped out at me, it's the perfect combination of peach and pink that goes with everything and leaves cheeks with a healthy flush of colour.

This is my wonder product for tired eyes. I'm quite pale so I use the fairest shade Porcelain Bisque, I'm yet to discover another product that rivals the ability of this one to lighten and brighten the eye area.

Out of all of the powder highlighters I own, including some high-end brands like MAC and Urban Decay, this highlighter is my all-time favourite! The formula is so finely milled that your skin is left with the perfect amount of glow and not looking like a disco-ball!

Since purchasing this mascara I have been completely converted from my usual brand and won't consider anything else! This mascara does an amazing job of separating and lengthening lashes and doesn't dry and flake like some brands.

Friday, 6 March 2015

When Barry M released their new pastel quick dry shades I told myself I didn't need them. I probably have at least ten variations of the newly released shades but when browsing the Barry M stand in my local boots I didn't retain the control I had displayed at home. I picked up 4 shades in total, being pale skinned and quite stuck in my style rut shades of oranges and lilac's just aren't for me.

The first thing that impressed me about their new range is the brush, Barry M have given us a flat brush that almost covers the nail in just one swipe. The claim of being a quick dry polish didn't really draw me to them, I use Seche Vite Quick Dry Topcoat over every mani so the speed of drying isn't really an issue for me. I found three thin coats worked best and the finish is a milky pastel grey with just the right amount of shine.

After all of the vampy shades and glitter polishes I wore over the winter I am really embracing neutral shades at the moment. I will post some reviews of the other 3 polishes I bought for the new range soon, I recently had a Nails Inc binge so I'm unto my eyeballs in nail polish at the moment!

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

I can't quite remember how I acquired this sachet sample, possibly from an insert of a magazine, but whilst riffling through my drawer of samples looking for something to try for my Tuesday spot I picked this one as I rarely change up my hair routine and as an avid fan of anything containing Argan Oil I was intrigued to see the effects.

So what is The Sleek Perfector Oil? Well it's a lightweight, high performance formula blended with coconut oil to help protect against damage from heat and tame frizz. Designed specifically for dry, frizzy hair this multi-purpose oil leaves hair smelling delicious and even in our damp British weather hair is silky and shiny.

I have really enjoyed using this hair oil, I applied a small amount to damp hair and then again once I've dried and styled my hair to tame the last few flyaway's. Unlike some products that are designed for dry/frizzy hair this oil doesn't weigh your hair down or leave a greasy finish. This is a product I really would consider buying once my Argan Oil runs out.

You'll always hear a shriek of excitement from me when I see that Latest In Beauty have collaborated with Glamour magazines Beauty Director Alessandra Steinherr to create another beauty box. Not only are the boxes fantastic value for money (the Spring Beauty Edit has a combined product value of £99!) but they are full of items that I either already love or products that I have gone on to love. My Spring Beauty Edit box arrived yesterday and here's more detail on the contents...

An innovative colour+base gel finish nail polish that's available in 30 shades! I received the shade Pocket Aces which is a gorgeous pinky-coral shade that will get a lot of wear from me in the summer.

I use Argan oil all the time and I was excited to see Morroccanoil featured in this box. A rich, creamy formula that when smoothed on to the mid lengths and ends of your hair and left for just five minutes will leave you with shinier, more manageable hair.

A kit that contains colour-matching powders, clear wax and tweezers for any strays.

Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Lip Gloss | rrp £5.49

Launching soon are these gorgeous non-sticky lip glosses. Enriched with Argan Oil and delivering a super glossy 6 hour wear, I received the shade My Eternity which is a berry toned shade with fine sliver shimmer.

This was one product I was excited to see featured in the box. I received the shade 06 Golden Brown which couldn't have been a better shade for me! These long wearing eyeshadows have hundreds of gleaming reviews and I can't wait to try it!

A product that I can't actually find anywhere online, I'm not sure if it just hasn't been launched yet so haven't a clue on the value but it promises to deliver a healthy flush of colour through a super blendable, buildable formula.

The box also includes a sample of Ellie Saab's L'Eau Couture, 12 print issues plus 12 smart phone and tablet issues of Glamour magazine and some exclusive discount codes for KIKO, Beauty UK, NUXE and MODEL CO. I think the selection of products really covers all aspects of spring beauty and every product will get used by me! The box officially launches today so grab yours before it sells out!

Sunday, 1 March 2015

I've had this brush in my possession for a few weeks now and after using it practically everyday I feel I can share my thoughts on whether one of the most expensive brushes from Real Techniques is worth parting with your hard earned cash for.

Lets start with the aesthetics of this brush. Two words, rose gold. Need I say more? Not only does this brush look beautiful with it's rose gold finish and super soft white bristles designed to allow you to see how much product you're loading on to it but it's also weighted for optimal control and comfort, specifically engineered for perfect weight distribution when tipped towards the face.

The bristles are super soft and densely packed making it perfect for not only applying cream/powder formulas for contouring but also the application and seamless blending of cream/powder blushers. The width of the brush head is perfect for fitting into the hollows of your cheekbones and either using the technique of blending with a circular motion or gently brushing upward if you are concerned about disturbing your foundation you are left with perfect cheekbones.

I'm no pro at contouring and had given it a few futile attempts before but this brush has really made me excited about contouring and really is a foolproof tool for any leaner like myself. So is this brush worth it's £22 price? In my opinion, worth every penny.